CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Subject: Buddha in abhayamudra, gesture of fearlessness

Subject: Relief depicting the Miracle at Shravasti. It was found northwest of the Main Shrine during the 1906-07 excavations. At Shravasti, the Buddha engaged in a debate with six adherents of rival faiths often described in Buddhist literature as “heretics”. Over the course of eight days, the Buddha performed various feats, culminating in the replication of his own form on lotuses, each one simultaneously preaching dharma (righteous law). The Buddha is seated in the lower-central part of the relief, his hands in dharmachakra mudra. From his body grow lotus creepers, each culminating in a full-blown lotus flower that serves as the pedestal for a seated or standing Buddha; there are eight of them in addition to the larger main figure.

Subject: Architectural fragment showing svana-vyala, riding on a leogryph

Subject: Bhrikuti Tara, standing

Subject: Buddha standing in varadamudra or the boon bestowing gesture

Subject: Andhakasuravadhamurti, detail of demon Andhaka impaled on Shiva's trident

Subject: Andhakasuravadhamurti, detail 

Subject: Andhakasuravadhamurti, detail

Subject: Andhakasuravadhamurti, assassination of demon Andhaka by Shiva

Subject: Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in seated position and boon bestowing attitude (varadamudra)

Subject: Bodhisattva Maitreya

Subject: Bodhisattva Maitreya, upper portion detail

Subject: Buddha, standing, detail

Subject: Buddha, standing

Subject: Buddha, standing in abhayamudra or gesture of reassurance

Subject: Buddha, standing in abhayamudra or gesture of reassurance, upper portion detail

Subject: Life Scenes of Buddha, detail showing First Sermon and Mahaparinirvana.

Subject: Life Scenes of Buddha, detail. The uppermost compartment illustrates the Buddha's decease (mahaparinirvana). There is a group of five mourning figures. The figure seated cross-legged with the back turned to the front can be identified as Subhadra, the last convert of Buddha. The figure at the feet of Buddha is his disciple Mahakasyapa of Rajagriha. The figure near Buddha's head fanning him must be monk Upavana. Behind Buddha's image are four more mourning figures each with the right hand raised in grief. Tree spirits emerging from the sala trees shower flowers on Buddha.

Subject: Life Scenes of Buddha, detail showing Nativity and Enlightenment (bottom to top).

Subject: Life Scenes of Buddha (bottom to top): Nativity; Enlightenment; First sermon; Mahaparinirvana.

Subject: Buddha in dharmachakra parvatana, detail. The Buddha's first sermon is called Dharma Chakra Pravartana or the Turning of the Wheel of Law.

Subject: Buddha in dharmachakra parvatana, detail. The Buddha's first sermon is called Dharma Chakra Pravartana or the Turning of the Wheel of Law.

Subject: Buddha in dharmachakra parvatana. The Buddha's first sermon is called Dharma Chakra Pravartana or the Turning of the Wheel of Law.

Subject: Buddha in dharmachakra parvatana. The Buddha's first sermon is called Dharma Chakra Pravartana or the Turning of the Wheel of Law.